"Does TV help or harm a village? " a Goathland Travel Page by Britannia2

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Goathland Post Office 2006 sign.

Goathland - a victim of a popular TV programme

UK readers and readers from 38 other countries worldwide will know that the popular Heartbeat TV programme is filmed in Goathland. The last time I was here in 1986 it was a pleasant village with a few tourists about but its May 2006 and we can hardly move. There are people here from all over the world and its only May! What will the high summer be like? Parking is difficult, the shops and cafes are crowded and everyone is asking the local shop keepers news of the next series which was recently filmed here.
But don't be put off - my introduction sounds harsh but do visit. This is still a wonderful village and if you are local then visit out of season and leave it to people who can only come here in the summer. After all this really is a village that can be appreciated at anytime of the year.
Aidensfield, sorry Goathland, has certainly changed in 20 years. There is certainly more to see than there ever used to be and the number of places to eat is improved. Souveniers from the TV series are certainly good value for once as are the prices of most things in the shops- many local people have no doubt profited from Heartbeat but al least they are not cheating visitors.

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Goathland and Aidensfield Post Office

A village with a double identity.

For those who do not know Goathalnd is called Aidensfield in Heartbeat. This is the story of local people based around the local police officers and is set in what is eternally 1969. There are steam trains, bobbies on bikes, smoking allowed everywhere and anywhere and its nostalgia for an hour every Sunday night. I have never been sure how it translates to the 38 countries that buy it for their TV services but judging by Goathalnds visitors on a May visit they were from all over the world and here for the world of Heartbeat.
As the photo shows this must be the only post office in the UK with two names - Goathland and Aidensfield.

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Taking photos can be difficult!

Crowds

Our visit was on a warm May Tuesday afternoon in the May school holiday. Taking photos was difficult because of the crowds and as my photo here shows there was no respect for those of us taking photos. Now of course we were part of the crowd and perhaps I got in someones way - I must stress - try and visit out of season if you can.